Multicolor diazo image-forming material

ABSTRACT

A multi-color image forming material which is in the form of multiple layers on a support, and having, at least two photosensitive layers, the farthest layer from the support being the uppermost photosensitive layer, the photosensitive layers being formed from a water-soluble resin having photocrosslinking ability with diazo resin, a photosensitive water-soluble, organic solvent insoluble diazo resin, and a water dispersible coloring agent which can produce a color tone, each photosensitive layer having a coloring agent which can produce a different color tone; and at least one intermediate layer, each intermediate layer being positioned between each photosensitive layer and the next adjacent photosensitive layer, the intermediate layer being formed from a hydrophobic, water-resistant, organic solvent softenable resin.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 738,720, filed May 29, 1985,now U.S. Pat. No. 4,670,371.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a multicolor image-forming material andimage-forming method which is capable of forming the negative multicolorimage. The process is usable in the fields of drafting for the design,plate-making for the printing, etc., wherein, through an intermediatelayer comprising a hydrophobic, water-resistant and organicsolvent-softenable resin, diazo resin-water-soluble resin typephotosensitive layers containing coloring agent are coated in multiplelayers on a supporter provided with adhesive treatment, if need be.Varying color tones of coloring agent are provided in everyphotosensitive layer, and the pattern exposure, the immersion into theorganic solvent to soften the resin in the intermediate layer, thewashing with water to remove the non-exposed area of the photosensitivelayer together with the upper intermediate layer thereof withoutremoving the area having, the image already been formed on the upperlayer thereof, and the drying are carried out repeatedly on everyphotosensitive layer unit.

Up to this time, in the field of drafting for design, there has beensuch a method of using multicolor image-forming material as anarchitectural draft for the design and the plan, for example,black-lined arrangement of the rooms, blue-linedlaying of the waterpipes, yellow-lined wiring for the electrical system and red-linedlaying of the gas pipes are recorded by superposing on a sheet of film.Also, in the field of platemaking for the printing, because of a trendto print, for example, the study-aid books for learning etc. withred-colored and blue-colored letters for the purpose of emphasizing theimportant portions, there has been a using method of using multicolorimage-forming material for proofing the multi-color letters.

Currently, the following methods for forming the multicolor image areused for the purposes described above.

(1) Surprint method

The multicolor image is formed in such a manner that a photosensitiveliquor containing the pigments of respective colors are coatedrotationally or with Wipon system on a sheet of supporter and, after theexposure, the soluble area is removed with a developing fluid, or thesolution of photosensitive agent having a property such that it losesadhesiveness after irradiation with light is coated on the substrate bythe throwing-on method and, after the exposure, the color toner isallowed to adhere to the non-exposed area where the adhesiveness stillremains to form the separated color image, and coating of thephotosensitive liquor and development are repeated thereon.

(2) Overlay method

The multicolor image is formed by superposing separated images on oneanother. The image are obtained by exposure and development with ammoniagas or the wet development of diazo photosensitive material coated onthe transparent film. Image may also be prepared by dissolving out toremove the soluble area with developing fluid, after exposing thetransparent film coated beforehand with the diazo resin etc. containingthe pigment of respective colors.

However, conventional methods as these have the problems as follows:

In the method (1), the user of the image-forming material has topractice the preparation of the photosensitive liquor, coating anddrying by himself and devices for those are also necessary. Therefore,the workability and the economical aspect are inferior. In the method(2), amendability by retouching is difficult since only the transparentfilm base can be used. Moreover, in this method, the procedure becomescomplicated since many film bases should be superposed. Furthermore, thediscoloration and the fading of the image becomes problematic in thecase of the diazo photosensitive material.

As a result of putting forward the diligent studies on the novelmulticolor image-forming material which can overcome the problemsaccompanied with the conventional methods described above, the inventorshave found a phenomenon which enables them to obtain an excellentnegative multicolor image by submitting a photosensitive layer ofimage-forming material to pattern exposure through an upper intermediatelayer thereof, by immersing into an organic solvent which does notdissolve the components in the photosensitive layer but softens theresin in the intermediate layer before and after the photocrosslinkingreaction, and by washing with water of ordinary temperature jetting outfrom a pressurized nozzle. The washing removes the non-exposed area(non-image area) of the photosensitive layer lying under theintermediate layer in direct contact therewith together with the upperintermediate layer thereof, but does not remove the image area havingalready been formed on the intermediate layer thereof. The image-formingmaterial is provided thereby in a manner so that, through theintermediate layer comprising hydrophobic, water-resistant and organicsolvent-softenable resin, diazo resin-water-soluble resin typephotosensitive layers are coated in multiple layers on the supporter invarying color tones of the cooring agent in every photosensitive layer.

The occurence of this phenomenon, that the intermediate layer isremoved, may be due to the fact that, when immersed in the organicsolvent described above, the resin in the intermediate layer is softenedinto to be a state which is capable of being removed, but the areawherein the image having been formed on the upper layer thereof, is notremoved since the hydraulic pressure does not affect directly on theintermediate layer due to the presence of the image. Moreover, if thepigment is added to the intermediate layer beforehand, there occurs aphenomenon wherein the penetrability of the organic solvent describedabove is increased and the easy softening thereby enables theremovability to be enhanced further by the hydraulic pressure.

The non-exposed area of the photosensitive layer lying under theintermediate layer in direct contact therewith which has no image on theupper layer thereof and the surface of which is bared is able to beremoved easily with water. Therefore, if the upper layer thereof issoftened by the organic solvent and brought into a state capable ofallowing water to penetrate easily, the non-exposed area of saidphotosensitive layer can be removed easily by the hydraulic pressuretogether with the upper intermediate layer thereof. When the upperphotosensitive layer is subjected to exposure, the lower photosensitivelayer is also exposed to the active rays transmitted through the upperlayer. Therefore, the area is not easily removed with water due to anincrease in the water-resistance. Besides, if the organic solventdescribed above dissolves the resin in the intermediate layer strongly,the resin in the intermediate layer is dissolved during the treatmentfor image formation of the lower photosensitive layer resulting in thewashing away of the upper image. For this reason, it is preferable thatthe resin in the intermediate layer is not dissoluable or has lowdissoluability with the organic solvent and the softening property is behigh

Applying the above-mentioned phenomenon, the present invention providesa multicolor image-forming material coated on a sheet of supporter withthe photosensitive layers so that images of respective colors are to beformed, and the image-forming method in which exposure, immersion intoorganic solvent, washing for the removal, and drying are repeated usingthis multicolor image-forming material.

In the following, the invention is illustrated in detail based onexamples.

As the supporters usable in the invention, plastic films such aspolyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, polystyrene, polycarbonate, triacetate, etc., glass plate,papers made water-resistant by laminating on both sides withpolyethylene, polypropylene, etc., and the like can be mentioned.

Moreover, in order to give writing quality by pencil, Indian ink, ballpen, etc. on one side or both sides, plastic films with drafting qualitysuch as sand mat film by the sand-blasting method, chemical mat filmhaving a treated surface with a coating mixture formulated withadditives such as dye, pigment, filler, etc. into the binder, etchingmat film etched with alkali, etc., opacified film kneaded the whitepigment, and the like can also be employed. The thickness of thesupporter is suitable to be about 50 to 150μ, though not limitedparticularly.

Although the photosensitive layer may be coated directly on thesesupporters, it is desirable to use corona discharge treatment, coatingwith a primer treatment agent or adhesive treatment or these combinedbeforehand in order to improve the adhesiveness. The choice of primertreatment agents is dependent upon the supporter. Suitable choicesinclude phenol resin, polyester resin, urethane resin, copolymer ofvinylidene chloride with vinyl acetate, copolymer of vinylidene chloridewith acrylonitrile, etc. These can be used on the supporter with acoated film thickness of 0.1 to 2.0μ preferably. In particular, whensand mat film and chemical mat film are used as the supporters, it ispreferable to conduct the coating of the aforementioned primer treatmentagent in order to strengthen the adhesiveness between the mat layer andthe photosensitive layer and to prevent greasing, in other words, theadsorption of diazo resin, coloring agent, etc. used in thephotosensitive layer.

The photosensitive layer used for the invention comprises water-solubleresin having photocross-linking ability with diazo resin, the diazoresin and the coloring agent. As water-soluble resins having thephotocrosslinking ability with diazo resin, a large number of materials,for example, polyvinyl alcohol, gelatin, casein, glue, alginate, gums,cellulose derivatives such as carboxymethylcellulose,hydroxyethylcellulose, etc., polyacrylic acid and salts thereof,polymethacrylic acid and salts thereof, polyacrylamide, polyethyleneoxide, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and the like can be mentioned. All of theseare possible to be used, if not dissolved into the solvent used for thecoating of the intermediate layer and the organic solvent which softensthe resin in the intermediate layer before and after thephotocrosslinking reaction. However, as a result of putting forward thediligent investigations in consideration of photocrosslinkingreactivity, development property, preservative stability, strength ofthe coated film and water-resistance after the photocrosslinkingreaction, safety, width of the range in the selection of organic solventwhich satisfies the above-mentioned conditions, and the like, inparticular, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamide and copolymers thereofhave been found to be excellent when used independently or as a mixtureof these materials.

The diazo resin must be soluble into water and insoluble into theorganic solvent which is used for the coating of the intermediate layeror the softening thereof. When sulfate or zinc chloride salt of formalincondensate of p-diazodiphenylamine is used, the addition amount thereofshould be 2 to 20 wt.%, preferably 4 to 12 wt.% of the water-solubleresin described above. The coloring agent may be selected in a widerange so long as it is a water-dispersible pigment, but it is requiredto have a good miscibility with the water-soluble resin and the diazoresin described above and not to have adverse effects on thephotosensitivity, the development property, etc. The addition amount ofthe coloring agent is preferable to be determined in order so that theoptical transmission density of one layer of image formed becomes 0.3 to1.5 therefor. The amount is dependent upon the kind of coloring agent,coating weight of the photosensitive layer, kind of the supporter, etc.Moreover, the color tone of the coloring agent may be selected to meetthe purpose of the use. Besides, sufficient consideration is necessaryas to the dispersion of the pigment used as the coloring agent. Forexample, the particle diameter is preferable to be as small as possiblefrom the points of the resolution etc. Although water-soluble dyes weretested as the coloring agents, they showed, in general, poorcompatibility with the components of the photosensitive layer,particularly, with the diazo resin and further lowered thephotocrosslinking ability and the preservative stability due to theeffects of many kinds of added inorganic salts etc. contained therein.Moreover, since there were many problems in that the photocrosslinkedarea was apt to be dissolved out with water at the time of thedevelopement under the influence of the dye contained, that thelight-fastness was poor, and the like, they were unsuitable for use asthe coloring agents of the invention.

Besides the components described above, stabilizers for the preventionof the dark reaction, leveling agents for the improvement in the coatingrunnability when the photosensitive layer is provided on the supporteror the intermediate layer, defoamers, surfactants, etc. can be added tothe photosensitive layer, if necessary. Moreover, upon providing saidcolored layer, the aforementioned components are mixed principally afterdissolved or dispersed into water, but, for the purpose of improvementin the defoaming and the coating runnability, water-soluble organicsolvents such as alcohols etc. can also be used as a part of the diluentif need be. The thickness of said photosensitive layer is preferable tobe as thin as possible from the point of the image reproducibility, andis preferable to be a coated film thickness of 1 to 5μ.

The intermediate layer used for the invention comprises the hydrophobic,water-resistant and organic solvent-softenable resin, and further theaddition of the pigment is possible. The resins for the intermediatelayer described above can be used including different materials, as longas the solvent used for the coating thereof does not dissolve thecomponents in the photosensitive layer before the photocrosslinkingreaction, and the resins have at least one or more organic solventswhich do not dissolve the photosensitive layer before and after thephotocrosslinking reaction but soften said resin in the intermediatelayer. For example, polyamide resin, polyvinyl acetate,polyvinylbutyrol, polyvinyl formal, etc. can be used by selectingi-propyl alcohol for the organic solvent to soften. Also, polyvinylidenechloride, copolymer of vinyl chloride with vinyl acetate, variouscellulose derivatives, etc. can be used by selecting butyl acetate forthe organic solvent to soften. Moreover, as the pigments to be used inthe case of the addition thereof to the intermediate layer, such finepowders can be used that are insoluble into the organic solvent used forthe softening of the intermediate layer, the solvent used for thecoating of the resin for intermediate layer, and water, and show noreactivity with the compositions of the photosensitive layer and theintermediate layer. For example, by employing silica, titanium dioxide,clay, zinc oxide, barium sulfate, etc., excellent images can beobtained. The particle diameter of these pigments is preferable to beless than 2μ from the point of the disolution, though not limitedparticularly.

Moreover, it is also possible to reproduce the color tone as a colormixture with the color tone of the upper or lower photosensitive layerof the intermediate layer by using colored pigments, and to extinguishthe color tone of the lower photosensitive layer by hiding it with whitepigments. However, the white pigments used should not be those whichhinder the transmission of the active rays through the lowerphotosensitive layer to the highest degree. The addition amount of thepigment is preferable to be 10 to 100 wt.% of the resin used for theintermediate layer, though the amount is dependent upon the kind of thepigment, particle diameter, color tone, etc. The thickness of saidintermediate layer is preferable to be as thin as possible from thepoints of the transmissivity of the active rays through thephotosensitive layer, the reproducibility of the image, etc., andexcellent images can be obtained with a coated film thickness of 0.3 to4μ.

The multicolor image-forming material of the invention is made up byproviding alternately the photosensitive layer and the intermediatelayer comprising the composition of the former and that of the latter asdescribed above, respectively, on the supporter which is, as the casemay be, coated with the primer treatment agent, and by placing thephotosensitive layer for the uppermost layer. Thereby, if too manyphotosensitive layers are provided, the image having already been formedon the upper layer is sometimes washed away during the treatment for thedevelopment of the lower photosensitive layer. In order to avoid thisphenomenon, the coated photosensitive layers are preferable to be lessthan 5 layers. As the coating processes used for the application of theprimer treatment agent, the composition of the photosensitive layer andthe intermediate layer, all of the processes publicly known hithertosuch as roll coating, reverse roll coating, dip coating, wire-wound barcoating, etc. can be applied, and there are no particular limitations solong as a uniform coating film is obtained.

The multicolor image-forming material of the invention can be used forthe formation of images via the following processes.

(1) The uppermost photosensitive layer of the photosensitive coated faceis exposed to light while contacted closely with a negative manuscript.

It is preferable if the light source used for the exposure has aspectral energy distribution that causes effectively thephotocrosslinking reaction between the diazo resin and the water-solubleresin described above. Various types of mercury lamps, carbon arc lamps,xenon lamps, metal halide lamps, ultraviolet ray fluorescent lamps, etc.can be used.

(2) The uppermost photosensitive layer of the photosensitive coated faceis washed with water and dried. The washing is performed by the use ofshower of water of ordinary temperature jetting out from a nozzle undera pressure of less than 2 kg/cm². Washing may also be performed byrubbing off lightly with a sponge after immersing into water of ordinarytemperature.

The drying is carried out in a warm current of air heated to atemperature lower than 80° C.

(3) The second photosensitive layer from the top of the photosensitivecoated face is exposed through the upper intermediate layer just thereonwhile contacted closely with the negative manuscript.

(4) Immersion is made into an organic solvent which is capable ofsoftening the resin in the intermediate layer.

The immersion time varys depending on the combination of the resin inthe intermediate layer with the organic solvent. If the immersion timeis too short, the washing for the development cannot be practiced in thenext step (5), if too long, the image having already been formed on theupper layer is sometimes washed away. Besides, in this process, thesurface of the intermediate layer may also be wetted with a sponge whichis holding the organic solvent.

(5) The second photosensitive layer from the top of the photosensitivecoated face and the upper intermediate layer just thereon are washedwith water and dried.

The method for washing is same as that in (2). At this time, thenon-exposed area (non-image area) on the second photosensitive layerfrom the top, which is contacted directly with the intermediate layerthereon, is washed to remove together with the upper intermediate layerexcept the image area having already been formed on the upper layer.

When more than three of the photosensitive layers are coated, processsteps (3), (4) and (5) are repeated in sequence with regard to the thirdand the subsequent layers from the top of the photosensitive coatedface.

The following examples will illustrate the invention more clearly, butthe invention is not confined to the Examples.

EXAMPLE 1

A liquor (primer treatment liquor)

    ______________________________________                                        Vinylidene chloride-acrylonitrile                                                                  7 parts by wt.                                           copolymer                                                                     Chlorinated ethylene-vinyl acetate                                                                 3 parts by wt.                                           copolymer                                                                     Methyl ethyl ketone 50 parts by wt.                                           Toluene             50 parts by wt.                                           ______________________________________                                    

B liquor (photosensitive layer-forming liquor)

    ______________________________________                                        Polyvinyl alcohol (average degree                                                                   100    parts by wt.                                     of polymerization 1700-2400,                                                  saponification degree 98.5 ± 0.5%),                                        10% solution                                                                  Condensate of p-diazodiphenylamine                                                                  0.8    parts by wt.                                     with formaldehyde                                                             Pigment dispersion (20% aqueous                                                                     4      parts by wt.                                     dispersion of Permanent Carmine                                               FB)                                                                           Water                 100    parts by wt.                                     Isopropyl alcohol     10     parts by wt.                                     ______________________________________                                    

C liquor (photosensitive layer-forming liquor)

    ______________________________________                                        One obtained by replacing only the pigment dispersion with 20%                aqueous dispersion of carbon black in the composition of B liquor.            The pigment dispersion was obtained by dispersing for                         3 hours with an ink mill using the following formulation                      ______________________________________                                        Pigment              60      parts by wt.                                     Nonionic surfactant (mainly poly-                                                                  1      part by wt.                                       ethyleneglycol alkylphenyl ether)                                             Water                240    parts by wt.                                      ______________________________________                                    

D liquor (intermmediate layer-forming liquor)

    ______________________________________                                        Vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate                                                                         9     parts by wt.                                     copolymer (Denka Lac # 21, made                                               by Denki Kagaku Kogyo Co.)                                                    Silica                 1     part by wt.                                      Toluene                95    parts by wt.                                     Ethyl acetate          95    parts by wt.                                     The silica used was dispersed for                                             8 hour with ball mill using following                                         formulation.                                                                  Silica                 10    parts by wt.                                     Vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate                                                                         4     parts by wt.                                     copolymer                                                                     Toluene                43    parts by wt.                                     Ethyl acetate          43    parts by wt.                                     ______________________________________                                    

On one side of a supporter of a thickness of 100μ, which had beenobtained by laminating polyethylene to a thickness of each 20μ on bothsides of paper of a thickness of 60μ, was coated A liquor with a rollcoater. The supporter was then dried for 1 minute at 100° C. to performthe primer treatment with a dried film thickness of about 1μ. Then, Bliquor was coated thereon with a wire-wound bar so as to form a driedfilm thickness of 2μ, and, after dried for 2 minutes at 80° C. with anair-blowing dryer, a photosensitive layer of magenta shade was formed.Further, D liquor was coated thereon with a wire-wound bar so as to forma dried film thickness of 1μ. This was dried for 1 minute at 80° C. withan air-blowing dryer to form the semitransparent intermediate layer.Furthermore, C liquor was coated thereon under the same conditions asused for B liquor so as to produce a dried film thickness of 2μ to formthe black photosensitive layer. Thus, the two-color image-formingmaterial was obtained.

Next, the photosensitive coated face of the two-color image-formingmaterials was closely contacted with a negative manuscript with lettersforming sentences in which portions of the important words had fallenout. Exposure was performed for 60 seconds from a distance of 1 m byusing an extra high voltage mercury lamp of 2 KW. Thereafter, thenon-exposed area (non-image area) was dissolved out to develop withwater of ordinary temperature jetting out from a nozzle at a pressure of1.5 kg/cm². Thereafter it was drained, dried and in a warm current ofair heated to 70° C. to form the image of black letters on the blackphotosensitive layer. Further, the intermediate layer of thephotosensitive coated face is connected with a negative manuscript withletters comprising only the portions of the missing important words inthe abovementioned sentences and exposure was given for 30 seconds underthe same exposing conditions. Then, this was immersed for 5 seconds intobutyl acetate, and the non-image area was dissolved out to developrapidly with water under the same conditions as described above. At thistime, the upper intermediate layer contacted with the non-image area wasremoved simultaneously, but the non-image area of the portion, the blackimage having already been formed on the upper layer thereof was notdissolved out, and the upper black image layer and the intermediatelayer of the portion were also not washed away. After drying a magentaimage was formed on the magenta photosensitive layer. In this manner,the image of the letters in the sentences was obtained wherein theordinary letters were of black shade and only the important portionswere of magenta shade.

The material obtained according to this example could be utilizedeffectively as the multicolor characterproofing material in the field ofthe plate-making for printing.

EXAMPLE 2

E liquor (primter treatment liquor)

    ______________________________________                                        Vinylidene chloride-acrylonitrile                                                                  10     parts by wt.                                      copolymer                                                                     Methyl ethyl ketone  100    parts by wt.                                      Trichloroacetic acid 2      parts by wt.                                      ______________________________________                                    

F liquor (photosensitive layer-forming liquor)

One obtained by replacing only the pigment dispersion with 20% aqueousdispersion of Phthalocyanine Blue in the composition of B liquor

On the mat surface of a polyethylene terephthalate film of a thickness f75μ which had been given a sand mat finish by a sand-blasting method wascoated E liquor with a roll coater. This was dried for 1 minute at 100°C. to obtain a dried film thickness of about 0.2μ. Following this, aphotosensitive layer of cyan shade comprising F liquor, the intermediatelayer comprising D liquor and the black photosensitive layer comprisingC liquor were provided in sequence by the same methods and dried to thesame film thicknesses as those in Example 1, respectively, to obtain thetwo-color image-forming material.

Next, by the same procedure as in Example 1, a street picture wasexposed on the black photosensitive layer and the laying picture ofwater pipes was exposed on the cyan photosensitive layer. After thetreatment for the image formation, the black street picture and the cyanlaying picture were formed on a sheet of film. Thereby, the portions inwhich the line drawings of both pictures were superposed showed a colormixture of black and cyan because of the semitransparency of theintermediate layer, and the transmission density of the black image areaand the cyan image area was 1.35 and 0.60, respectively (the imagedensity was measured with transmission type densitometer DM-500 (made byDainihon Screen Manufacturing Co.). Further, this was printed on acommercial diazo photosensitive paper used as the manuscript. As aresult of the development, the street picture was reproduced deeply andthe laying picture was reproduced lightly. Therefore, the distinction ofboth pictures was evident through the light and the shade.

The material obtained according to this example was able to be utilizedwidely and effectively in uses for drafting of design, mapping forsurveys, etc. as an intermediate sensitized film having a draftingquality and capable of forming a two-color image.

EXAMPLE 3

G liquor (photosensitive layer-forming liquor)

    ______________________________________                                        Polyacrylamide, 15% aqueous solution                                                              100      parts by wt.                                     (viscosity, 20,000 cps at 20° C.)                                      Condensate of p-diazodiphenylamine                                                                1        part by wt.                                      with formaldehyde                                                             Pigment dispersion (20% aqueous                                                                   12       parts by wt.                                     dispersion of Permanent Yellow HR)                                            Water               180      parts by wt.                                     Isopropyl alcohol   20       parts by wt.                                     ______________________________________                                    

H liquor (photosensitive layer-composing liquor)

One obtained by replacing only the pigment dispersion with 20% aqueousdisersion of Permanent Carmine FB in the composition of G liquor.

I liquor (photosensitive layer-composing liquor)

One obtained by replacing only the pigment dispersion with 20% aqueousdispersion of PHthalocyanine Blue in the composition of G liquor.

J liquor (photosensitive layer-composing liquor)

One obtained by replacing only the pigment dispersion with 20% aqueousdispersion of carbon black in the composition of G liquor.

K liquor (intermediate layer-forming liquor)

    ______________________________________                                        Polyvinyl butyral (Eslec BM-S,                                                                        6     parts by wt.                                    Sekisui Kagaku Kogyo Co.)                                                     Titanium dioxide        4     parts by wt.                                    Toluene                 45    parts by wt.                                    Ethyl acetate           45    parts by wt.                                    The titanium dioxide used was dispersed                                       for 8 hours with a ball mill using the following                              formulation.                                                                  Titanium dioxide        30    parts by wt.                                    Polyvinyl butyral       4     parts by wt.                                    Toluene                 33    parts by wt.                                    Ethyl acetate           33    parts by wt.                                    ______________________________________                                    

On sand mat film coated with the primer in Example 2 were coated Gliquor, K liquor, H liquor, K liquor, I liquor, K liquor and J liquor inthis order with a wire-wound bar so as to obtain a dried film thicknessof the photosensitive layer of 2μ and that of the intermediate layer of0.8μ. This was dried for 2 minutes at 80° C. in the case of thephotosensitive layer and for 1 minute at 80° C. in the case of theintermediate layer with air-blowing dryer to obtain the four-colorimage-forming material provided with the photosensitive layers coloredin order of black, cyan, magenta and yellow from the top of thephotosensitive coated face.

Next, four negative manuscripts of the arrangement picture of rooms fora building, the laying picture of the water pipes, the laying picture ofthe gas pipes and the wiring picture for the electrical system wereprepared. First the manuscript of the arrangement picture of rooms wascontacted closely with the photosensitive layer. This was exposed for 80seconds from a distance of 1 m by using an extra high voltage mercurylamp of 2 KW. Thereafter, the non-exposed area was dissolved out todevelop with water of ordinary temperature jetting out from a nozzle ata pressure of 1.5 kg/cm². It was thereafter drained and dried in a warmcurrent of air heated to 70° C. to form the black arrangement picture ofthe rooms on the black photosensitive layer. Secondly, fitting theposition to that of the black image of the arrangement picture of therooms, the laying picture of the water pipes was contacted closely withthe photosensitive layer through the intermediate layer, and the exposedfor 40 seconds under the same conditions. This was rubbed off with asponge allowed to hold isopropyl alcohol until the lower photosensitivelayer appeared. After being dissolved out with water to develop anddried, the cyan image of the laying picture of water pipes was obtainedon the cyan photosensitive layer. Following this, the image of thelaying picture of the gas pipes was formed on the magenta photosensitivelayer and that of the wiring picture for the electrical system wasformed on the yellow photosensitive layer in turn with the exposuretimes of 30 seconds and 25 seconds, respectively, through the sametreatment as that in the case of the cyan photosensitive layer to obtainthe architectural draft for the design consisting of four colors.Thereby, since the hiding power of the intermediate layer was high, thecolor tone of the photosensitive layer having the image on the surfacewas not affected by the coloring agent in the lower layer, and therespective pictures were reproduced with the color tones of black, cyan,magenta and yellow, so that the differences were distinguishedevidently.

The material obtained in accordance with this example could be utilizedwidely and effectively in the uses of drafting for design, mapping forsurveys, etc. as an intermediate sensitized film having a draftingquality and capable of forming the four-color image.

EXAMPLE 4

In place of 15% aqueous solution of polyacrylamide used for therespective photosensitive layer-forming liquors in Example 3, 15%aqueous solution of acrylamidediacetone acrylamide copolymer(copolymerization ratio, 6:4, average degree of polymerization, 1000)was used with similar results.

What is claimed is:
 1. A multi-color image forming material comprisingmultiple layers on a support, and having, at least two photosensitivelayers, the farthest layer from the support being the uppermostphotosensitive layer, the photosensitive layers being formed from awater-soluble resin having photocrosslinking ability with diazo resin, aphotosensitive water soluble, organic solvent insoluble diazo resin, anda water dispersible coloring agent which can produce a color tone, eachphotosensitive layer having a coloring agent which can produce adifferent color tone; and at least one intermediate layer, eachintermediate layer being positioned between each photosensitive layerand the next adjacent photosensitive layer, the intermediate layer beingformed from a hydrophobic, water-resistant, organic solvent softenableresin.